PA Bulletin 12 February 2008
Connexions Surrey PA Bulletin
12 February 2008
The bulletin is produced every two weeks and we aim to keep you up to date with current issues and aware of news that is relevant to your day to day jobs. The bulletin sits alongside the PA Resource section of the website.
1: R U Thinking? Valentines Day Media Campaign
2. Call for Evidence consultation for Youth Sector
3. Mark "The Artful Dodger" Hill at the Woking YPod!
4: Mentoring Projects
5. Ethics & Values in Guidance course
7. Job Opportunities at YMCAs in Surrey
8. Careers in Theatre
9. Prime Minister's Global Fellowship
10. NEET Update
Connexions Training Programme
External Training Programme
1: R U Thinking? Valentines Day - Media Campaign
The run up to Valentines Day is an ideal time to promote Sexual Health awareness amongst young people. Please could you display the attached information from the 11th February until at least the 22nd February to cover Valentines Day and Half Term. Please contact me direct to receive copies of the following materials:
§ A ‘Happy Valentines’ Title poster.
§ A selection of R U Thinking Materials
I hope that you will be able to display these materials in prominent places where young people will be able to view/utilise them. All of the materials focus on sexual health awareness, preventing Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s) and pregnancies.
It is imperative that we continue to promote information pertaining to sexual health in reducing unwanted pregnancies and preventing STI’s, if we are to meet the Governments target of reducing Surrey’s under 18 conception rate by 40% in 2010.
Marianne Cox
Connexions Teenage Parent Personal Adviser
On behalf of the Surrey Teenage Pregnancy Media Campaign
2: Call for Evidence on Youth Sector
On 16 January 2008 the DCSF launched a “call for evidence” consultation to gather information, advice and views on the current youth sector support arrangements. We would like to encourage all PAs to take part on this consulatation
The call for evidence is open to all professionals, volunteers and organisations working with, or set up for the benefit of young people, including those working in local authorities, private or third sector providers of leisure, culture, sport, Connexions or IAG, youth justice and health services. The consultation will ask for their thoughts and experiences on how to:
• achieve better working between Government, national and regional organisations
• help and encourage young people, particularly the most disadvantaged, influence policy making at national level
• improve access to ‘best practice’ information and training opportunities
• improve awareness of and access to funding and grants.
More information and details of how to respond to can be found on the DCSF’s consultation website at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/conDetails.cfm?consultationId=1525. The consultation is open for 12 weeks.
3: Mark "The Artful Dodger" Hill at the Woking YPod!
Woking YMCA and the Ypod Centre are proud to announce that on Thursday 28th February 2008 Mark “The Artful Dodger” Hill will be DJing live from 6.00-8.00pm at the Ypod on Chobham Road in Woking town centre. This is the very start of his world tour!
Mark Hill co-founded Artful Dodger in the late Nineties writing hit tracks such as ‘Rewind’, ‘Woman Trouble’ and ‘Moving Too Fast’. He nurtured the young CRAIG DAVID, writing and producing Craig’s hit album, the massive multi-award winning and critically acclaimed ‘Born To Do It’. He is the winner of 4 Ivor Novello awards for song writing and numerous awards for production. He has had over 20 UK Top 20 hits, 2 number 1’s and amassed over 15 million sales worldwide. Now a resident in Ibiza and the UK with his family, Mark is back in the studio producing “club bangers” for the masses!
Entry to the event is completely free and for any ‘up-and-coming’ producers, DJs and musicians there will be a free 60 minute question and answer session at the Ypod from 5.00-6.00pm before Mark performs.
Mark will be broadcasting both performances through over the internet his on-line radio station to a huge following of fans from all over the world.
For more information about the events please contact Paul at Woking YMCA on 01483 757160 or paul.langtree@wokingymca.org.uk . For more information about the internet broadcasts go to www.markhill.dj.
4: Mentoring projects
Just a note to let you know that there are currently three projects running that are directed at the very hard-to-reach NEET. They are being run by Guildford YMCA, Woking YMCA and Rainer. This work does not duplicate the work of Connexions Personal Advisers, but instead underpins and supplements it so that time-intensive focussed work with the young person will enable them to establish a ‘personal pathway’ and ensure that they are ready for you to take them on and move them quickly into education, employment or training
We are also contracting with Surrey Chambers of Commerce that they put business mentors in selected schools to work with young people at risk of disengaging who might benefit from knowing more about the world of work.
For further details, please contact Justine Khan on 01483 519333 or email justine.khan@surreycc.gov.uk
5: Ethics and Values in Guidance course
17 March 2008 - Picton Place, London
All guidance practitioners are required to work within an ethical code of practice. Awareness of and the competence to deal professionally with ethical issues and personal value systems are fundamental to our qualification framework.
This is a one day course which can supplement initial professional training and can sustain continued professional development. It draws on your own experience of guidance interventions - and your capacity to work within a group. It offers theoretical frameworks for both Ethics and Values, and the chance to reflect on and apply them to practice.
Who should attend?
This course will be of particularly relevance for anyone working towards the NVQ in Advice and Guidance or LDSS. It could also provide a useful refresher for more experienced practitioners and managers involved in delivery.
What will you learn?
- Understanding and application of ethical theory
- Understanding of personal value systems and how they might impact on your relationship with clients
- Your responsibility within the licence to practice
- How to contribute to and draw from a community of practice
Closing date will be: Friday 22 February 2008
Nominations for all courses need to be sent to Bernadette Slack at VT Careers Management, Surrey, Sutton House, Weyside Park, Catteshall Lane, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1XJ
6: Congratulations...
A huge congratulations to Heidi Mearns, PA and Line Manager with EOTAS, who has successfully completed her level 4 NVQ in Learning, Development and Support Services for children, young people and those who care for them (LDSS NVQ).
7: Job Opportunities at YMCAs in Surrey
The YMCA, building on the success of its Millennium Volunteers scheme and with support from v, is setting up an exciting new county wide volunteering initiative to help facilitate a lasting change in the quality, quantity and diversity of youth volunteering within Surrey. Please see attached for full details.
We are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic and committed team of professionals who are passionate about the benefits that volunteering can bring for young people and their communities.
If you have a background in youth work or volunteering and have the experience, confidence and drive to effect change in your community then we would be interested in hearing from you.
The vinvolved team will be based at the YMCA in Redhill and will also work from YMCA Youth Centres at Guildford and Woking and possibly a venue in Banstead.
All post holders will have free access to sports and fitness facilities at the YMCA Sports Centre in Redhill.
For a full application pack please contact Peter Mercer 01737 378485/779979. For an informal chat contact Ian Burks on 01737 779979 or 773089
Reigate and Redhill YMCA
Princes Rd, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 6JJ Charity No 1075028
8: Careers in Theatre
A unique new Arts Council England-funded website has been created for young people that lifts the lid on the huge variety of careers available in the Theatre industry.
Part of the Young People's Participatory Theatre project (YPPT), www.getintotheatreorg is aimed at young people aged 14+. It features over 140 case studies of people working in the full range of careers in the Theatre industry, from set design to fight directing, rigging to public relations, programming to marketing. Other features include a CV clinic, expert panel and regularly posted work experience and participatory opportunities.
If you require further information please contact helen.love@artscouncil.org.uk.
Helen Love
Administrator
Young People's Participatory Theatre, Arts Council England, National Office
Tel +44(0)20 7973 5141 Fax +44(0)20 7973 6581
Helen.Love@artscouncil.org.uk
9: Prime Minister's Global Fellowship
Please find attached news of a British Council-managed programme to enable young people to develop their professional skills and inter-cultural understanding. Launched earlier this month, with funding from DCSF, the Prime Minister’s Global Fellowships will support 100 young people from across the UK during a six-week period of work experience and cultural immersion in one of the world’s emerging economies (participating countries are currently: Brazil, China and India). On return to England, the young people will be encouraged to talk to others in their local communities, to pass on some of the learning from their experience - and how it can complement formal study and training.
Applications close on 29 February 2008
Further information is available at www.globalgateway.org/pmgf.
9:
Click here to follow the links to view the NEET statistics for each individual borough
Did you know that there are a wide range of job vacancies, vacant college places and training courses all over the county waiting to be filled? As the majority don’t have particularly demanding entry requirements, they are an ideal choice for many NEET youngsters.
Our Centres produce regular listings of local opportunities. Vacancy Bulletins are now listed on the Connexions website Job search page and you can also pick up copies from your local Centre to share with the young people you are currently working with.
NEET Activities Flyer - Jan-March 2008
Please find attached a document highlighting a range of NEET activities taking place for young people around the County from January until the end of March 2008. The aim of the document is to give you an indication of the types of activities/programmes that are available or are currently being undertaken.
The next edition of the flyer will cover the period April - June 2008 and ideally I would like to distribute it to you all week commencing 17th March which would allow you some time to speak with your NEET young people and potentially get them signed up onto a course/programme that may be starting within this period.
If you are involved in any NEET (16-18 year old) activities or know of any activities for NEET young people that are taking place between January and the end of March 2008 then please let me have the following details by 14th March and I will include the programme in the next flyer:
- Course title
- Brief description, to include, number of weeks, core content, referral process etc
- Agency/provider
- Dates
- Time
- Costs if any incurred by young person
- Contact name
- Contact details i.e. telephone number and email address
Commissioning Executive
Connexions Surrey
Tel: 01483 519339
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Connexions Training Update
A full training programme and details can be found on the PA resources page New courses are: 4th March – Intro to special needs awareness. The procedures and methods for working with young people in school who have special needs.
February 08 14th Feb – Surrey Welfare Rights Unit Benefits for 16 & 17 year olds, Runnymede Centre. Please discuss with your line manager and make own bookings as there is a charge to individual organisations for this training. 20th Feb – Introduction to adapt – FULL 26th & 27th Feb – Introduction to 1:1 interactions. Follow up date for Guidance = 9th April, follow up date for information & advice = 7th May March 08 3rd & 4th March – Motivational techniques – London venue 4th March – Introduction to Special needs awareness – Sutton House. 11th March – Child protection and confidentiality – London venue 17th March – Ethics and values in guidance - London venue 18th March – Drug awareness training – In-volve, Guildford 19th March – Adapt workshop – Redhill or Crawley 19th & 20th March – Higher Education Convention – University of Surrey 26th March – Enhanced Guidance Skills – London venue 27th & 28th March – Introduction to assessment (APIR/CAF) – Venue tbc
Please click here for full details of courses and for courses running until June 08 Nominations for all courses need to be sent to Bernadette Slack at VT Careers Management, Surrey, Sutton House, Weyside Park, Catteshall Lane, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1XJ |
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The following training courses are outside the Connexions training programme and therefore any costs will need to be met by your own organisation and not through the centrally funded Connexions programme. The aims and objectives are attached and details about fees and online booking are at http://www.swru.org/training.htm
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